DE102019202042A1 - Touch-sensitive user interfaces, in particular for household appliances, and methods for their production - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive user interface for an appliance, in particular for a household appliance. The interface comprises at least one sensor element (42) for detecting contact with the user interface and a housing component (10) of the device. The housing component (10) is a housing component (10) which is formed in one piece with the sensor element (42) and is preferably manufactured in an original form. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the device.

Description

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive user interface for an appliance, in particular for a household appliance. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a touch-sensitive user interface.

From the EP 2 111 779 B1 a coffee machine with a control panel is known. The control panel includes a flexible support for capacitive sensors and a cover mask. The capacitive sensors are used to generate signals for controlling and / or programming the coffee machine. The support is placed on the cover mask. The cover mask has detection areas, indicated by symbols, which lie on the sensors. The support also has an adhesive surface for connection to the cover mask. The disadvantage of this embodiment is that the support and the cover mask are two separate components that are first manufactured separately and then glued. Such a manufacturing process is comparatively cumbersome and costly. Furthermore, there may be an offset between the sensors and the detection areas. The known control panel is manufactured separately and then has to be integrated into the housing of the coffee machine in a further work step. This work step can also result in additional costs and is a source of further assembly errors. Adhesives can also increase the probability of failure during device operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a user interface that appears to be of high quality and is less error-prone and inexpensive to manufacture, which is preferably more fail-safe.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a touch-sensitive user interface for a device, in particular for a household device. The touch-sensitive user interface comprises at least one sensor element for detecting a touch of the user interface by a user. It also comprises a housing component of the outer housing of the device. The housing component is a housing component which is formed in one piece with the sensor element and is preferably manufactured in an original manner.

The touch-sensitive user interface is a device with which user instructions can be entered and / or via which information can be output to the user. The input can be made by touching the housing component. It can also be sufficient that a finger is brought into the immediate vicinity of the user interface for user input, that is, the interface is proximity-sensitive. For the sake of simplicity, however, only a touch sensitivity of the sensor element is assumed in the following because there are no relevant structural differences of the invention; the proximity sensitivity of the sensor element should not be excluded, but should be included. The user interface usually forms the control panel of the device. For example, such a user interface is used to generate signals for controlling, setting and / or programming the device. A user interface of a beverage preparation machine can, for example, serve to select the type of hot beverage or parameters of the beverage preparation machine, e.g. a user language, the time, a timer for example for decalcifying or for brewing processes etc., and in particular a brewing process, here e.g. a temperature, a pressure, a brewing time, amount and type of beans etc. to set.

The device can be, for example, an electrical device and particularly preferably a household device such as a beverage preparation machine for domestic use.

The sensor element for detecting contact or even just proximity can be a capacitive sensor element. Such a sensor element can comprise a first electrode which, together with a finger functioning as a second electrode, forms a capacitive element whose electrical signals can be evaluated by a control device in the device.

The housing component expediently forms part of the outer housing of the device. When installed in the device, the housing component is accessible from the outside for user input. The housing component is preferably made from a transparent material, for example from plastic or glass. The housing component is expediently designed in the form of a plate with sufficient rigidity for user input. In addition to areas for user interaction, the housing component can also include areas that are used only for mechanical protection or for covering the interior of the device. In particular, the housing component on the front of the device facing the user cannot be enclosed in a separate housing cover that is visible from the outside. The housing component preferably forms the user interface and completely the externally visible housing cover in a partial area of the front panel of the device.

According to the invention, the housing component is designed in one piece with the sensor element. It can expediently be provided that the at least one sensor element forms a material connection with the housing component. The housing component is preferably produced in a molded manner. The housing component thus forms a single, one-piece or integral component together with the sensor element, which is or is expediently produced in a primary forming production step. Primary molding comprises manufacturing processes in which a solid body is produced from a shapeless material, which has a geometrically defined shape. In another embodiment, the housing component can also be produced by a joining method, for example by welding the at least one sensor element.

A predefined pressing of the capacitive sensors on a carrier or on a support is no longer necessary due to the primary forming manufacturing process. There is no longer any risk that the pressing and thus its function will decrease over the service life due to relaxation of the pressing part. In addition, usually no more force is exerted on adjacent components, which could lead to additional stress on joints (e.g. adhesive bonds). Such a force could lead to an impairment of the joint over a longer period of time. It could also cause previous damage in assembly, e.g. B. if a joint would be loaded too early. Overall, the failure safety of the user interface can thus be improved.

The user interface can furthermore comprise at least one design element for fulfilling design requirements known per se. The design element can for example be an ornament or a symbol or a character string for an input command, e.g. for preselection of a type of beverage, a power switch symbol, direction buttons for menu navigation, etc .. It can either serve exclusively for design purposes or alone or additionally to simplify the operation of the device. The design element can preferably display the input area of the user interface that is assigned to a sensor element for the command input. A design element is expediently formed at least in the area in which contact with the user interface by the sensor element assigned to the input area can be detected. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one design element can be printed on the at least one film. The design element can also consist in the fact that a certain delimited area is or is not or is less printed, such as an area for a viewing window in which a digital display, e.g. B. an LCD display is arranged.

According to the invention, at least the one sensor element and / or the at least one design element can be attached to the at least one film, the material of the film being fused with the material of the housing component. According to the invention, therefore, no separate film or no separate carrier layer is provided and required on which the sensor elements or design elements are attached and which then have to be glued to other layers of the user interface. In this way, the sensor elements or design elements can be arranged simply and efficiently by means of a carrier film in the primary forming process by producing a single integral component, which is usually can be mounted on the device more cheaply. Such a film can also be referred to as a support surface for the elements. It is also conceivable that the at least one film is welded to the housing component.

Further elements can be attached to the at least one film, such as, for example, conductor tracks or one or more electrical interface (s) for connecting sensor elements to a control device, lighting elements, etc. Various options are conceivable for implementing the interface (s), such as Injected connectors, bare contact surfaces, glued-on connectors or flags as connectors.

At least one design element can be arranged on a front side of a film and at least one sensor element can be provided on the rear side of the film. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous for the manufacture of the housing component, since only one film has to be provided during the manufacture of the housing component. This can simplify the introduction of the elements into the molding tool. Design and touch functions can thus advantageously be combined in one film. Because the design symbols and the capacitive sensors are placed on one carrier and not on two different foils, the elements can be positioned more precisely in relation to one another.

In one embodiment, the at least one sensor element can consequently be provided on a first side of the housing component and the at least one design element can be provided on a second side of the housing component.

In a further embodiment, the at least one sensor element can be attached to a first film and a second film can comprise the at least one design element. The housing component can be a molded housing component that was manufactured in one piece with the first film and the second film. The first film and the second film can be on the same side of the housing component or on be provided on different sides of the housing component.

The housing component is preferably or is made by an in-mold process, e.g. B. In-mold labeling produced. In the method, the at least one film is arranged in the tool mold during the primary molding production of the housing component, and a component is created in which the film together with the design or sensor elements is integrally received.

The housing component is particularly preferably produced by thermoforming or back-molding the at least one design or sensor element, in particular by back-molding the at least one film. It can be provided that the at least one design element was applied by printing and / or hot stamping. This offers particularly suitable manufacturing methods for the one-piece manufacture of the housing component, the one-piece manufacture being the finished product.

At least one further housing part, for example a housing cover and / or a fastening element, can expediently be molded onto the housing component forming the user interface, for example by a co-molding process step. Advantageously, a further housing part - possibly also made of a different material - can be permanently fixed to the user interface in a cost-effective, cohesive and / or non-positive manner, without the need for a separate assembly step, such as gluing, which is disadvantageous in terms of manufacturing time, reliability and manufacturing costs can be.

The sensor system for detecting the touch by the user is therefore preferably injected directly into the housing component, e.g. B. by means of an in-mold labeling process, in which a film equipped with sensor elements is preferably back-injected. It is therefore advantageous to mount only one housing component in which the sensor elements are permanently fixed.

The sensor element is expediently largely and preferably enclosed on all sides by the primary forming production. For this purpose, injection molding material can largely or on all sides enclose the sensor during production, or the film which positions the sensor elements provides the enclosing material on the rear side of the sensor element. It is also conceivable that the further housing part encloses the rear side of the sensor element. The sensitive electronics are advantageously protected from dirt and moisture.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a device, preferably a household device, which comprises the user interface disclosed here.

• - Bereitstellen der mindestens einen Folie mit dem mindestens einen Sensorelement in einer Werkzeugform,
• - urformendes Herstellen der Gehäusekomponente in der Werkzeugform und
• - anschließendes Montieren der Gehäusekomponente an das Gerät.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for producing the device with the touch-sensitive user interface disclosed here. The method according to the invention comprises the steps:

• - Providing the at least one film with the at least one sensor element in a mold,
• - original forming of the housing component in the mold and
• - Subsequent mounting of the housing component on the device.

The features that were described in connection with the user interface disclosed here or with the device disclosed here can be implemented in the same way in the above method.

• 1 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der Ben utzerschn ittstelle,
• 2 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Benutzerschnittstelle,
• 3 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform der Benutzerschnittstelle,
• 4 eine schematische Explosionsansicht einer Benutzerschnittstelle mit einem Aufbau gemäß der 1,
• 5 schematisch eine perspektivische Ansicht der Benutzerschnittstelle gemäß der 4,
• 6 schematisch die Vorderseite der Folie 22 gemäß der 1,
• 7 schematisch die Rückseite der Folie 22 gemäß der 1 und
• 8 schematisch die Überlagerung von Vorderseite und Rückseite der Folie 22.

The principle of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. In the drawing show:

• 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the user interface,
• 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the user interface,
• 3 a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the user interface,
• 4th a schematic exploded view of a user interface with a structure according to FIG 1 ,
• 5 schematically a perspective view of the user interface according to FIG 4th ,
• 6th schematically the front of the film 22nd according to the 1 ,
• 7th schematically the back of the film 22nd according to the 1 and
• 8th schematically the superposition of the front and back of the film 22nd .

Corresponding components are provided with the same reference symbols in the following description of the figures, the design and function of which are not explained again for each figure in order to avoid repetition. Rather, the differences between the various embodiments are discussed.

The 1 shows schematically the layer structure of a first embodiment of the touch-sensitive user interface according to the invention. The transparent housing component is on the outside 10 provided, which limits the housing of the device to the outside and is a plastic component. On the inside of the housing component 10 is the slide 22nd provided here in one piece with the housing component in a primary molding production 10 merges. In particular, the film 22nd be an in-mold film or IMF film on which one or more design or sensor elements (not shown) are applied. Another housing part is optional 12 provided, which is also expediently integral with the housing component 10 connected is. The further housing part 12 lies on the inside of the foil 22nd on. The housing component 10 , the foil 22nd and the further housing part 12 are shown here spaced apart for the sake of simplicity. After the primary production of the housing component 10 these elements form a single component in which the film 22nd is injected with. The further housing part 12 can be made of the same or a different material.

The 2 shows schematically a further layer structure of a second embodiment of the user interface. On the first side of the housing component 10 - here the inside - is the first slide 24 provided with sensor elements. The film expediently comprises 24 further elements for recording a user input, such as conductor tracks and an interface to the evaluation electronics. On the opposite second side of the housing component 10 - here the outside - is the second foil 23 intended. The foil 23 includes the design elements (not shown). On the slide 23 became the optional clear coat 30th applied, which forms an outer surface of the user interface. The first slide 24 and the second slide 23 are preferred IMF foils, which are arranged in a tool mold during the primary production. The foil 23 or the slide 24 can, for example, be printing layers on which the design or sensor elements are applied prior to the primary production of the housing component 10 were printed. In this embodiment, those of the foil 24 assigned sensor elements (not shown) are also protected from mechanical damage and the design elements are implemented close to the outer surface. The design elements can also be applied to the outside of the housing component by other methods 10 be provided, for example by hot stamping.

The 3 shows schematically a further layer structure of a third embodiment of the user interface. The first film differs from the second embodiment 24 not on the inside of the housing component 10 provided, but on the outside between the second film 23 and the housing component 10 and under the optional clear coat 30th . In this embodiment, the sensor elements are arranged closer to the outer surface.

The 4th FIG. 11 shows schematically an exploded view of the user interface according to FIG 1 . The view shown here serves only to illustrate the three initial components of the user interface which are formed into an integral component in a tool mold (not shown). In one embodiment, for example, the further housing part 12 be a semi-finished product that goes along with the foil 22nd is introduced into the mold. The plate-like housing component can then be injection molded 10 be formed. Alternatively, the housing part 12 can be produced by injection molding in the same mold. The housing part 12 provides a frame and fasteners here 13th with which the user interface can be mounted on the device.

The 5 FIG. 11 schematically shows a perspective view of the user interface according to FIG 4th after the primary production. The fasteners 13th are on the frame of the further housing part 12 intended. The further housing part 12 does not protrude over the housing component 10 addition, so that in the assembled state only the housing component 10 forms the outer surface. Thus, are on an outer surface of the housing component 10 no production-related gaps or the like visible.

The 6th shows schematically a front side of the film 22nd according to the 1 . On the front of the slide 22nd are the design elements 44 , 45 educated. The design elements 44 are symbols or character strings that facilitate the operation of the device. The design element 45 is assigned to an LCD display of the device that encloses it. The symbols 44 , 45 can be implemented, for example, by high-contrast colorants that clearly stand out optically from neighboring areas. It is also conceivable that in particular the frame-like design element 45 is formed in that, compared to adjacent areas, no or less colorant is applied to the film 22nd are applied, for example to provide a display there or below for information output. The design element can also be just an ornament, such as the dividing line 44 who is in 6th runs horizontally.

The 7th shows schematically a rear side of the film 22nd according to the 1 . On the back of the slide 22nd the electronic components for detecting the touch are provided. In particular, the film comprises 22nd the capacitive sensors 42 as well as the conductor tracks 43 who have favourited the sensors 42 with an interface 41 for electrical connection of the user interface to the device.

The 8th shows schematically the superposition of the front and back of the film 22nd (seen from the front). The design elements 44 are here overlapping with the sensor elements 42 arranged. The design elements 44 each index or delimit an input area of the user interface. The input area is formed in the area in which the user interface is touched by the design element 44 correspondingly arranged sensor element 42 is detectable.

Since the preceding embodiments are examples, they can be modified in the usual way by the person skilled in the art to a wide extent without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the housing component 10 according to 1 at least partially colored or pre-colored, that is to say at least partially non-transparent. In addition, it does not need to be made of plastic, but can be made of glass.

Can also be advantageous with a different layer structure than that of the 1 another housing part 12 be provided. For example, the housing component 10 made of glass and the further housing part 12 be made of plastic. The further housing part 12 according to 5 can be a kind of frame around the housing component 10 form in order to be able to realize a gap-free design through a material connection. Furthermore, an additional glass plate can also be provided, which forms the outer surface of the user interface.

The layer structure can also be designed differently from that shown in the figures. In particular, the design elements 44 and sensor elements 42 also both on the inside of the housing component 10 or the second slide 23 on the inside of the housing component 10 and the first slide 24 on the outside of the housing component 10 be provided. Instead of printed foils 23 , 24 Any other suitable technology can also be used in order to position the design or sensor elements during the primary shaping production to form the one-piece component. The housing component can also not be produced in an archetype, but rather by a joining process, for example by welding the at least one sensor element and / or the at least one design element to the housing component.

Likewise, z. B. the design elements or can be the second slide 23 omitted. It is also possible to provide more than two separate foils for different functions. The outer clear coat 30th can also be used in the embodiment of 1 be provided. Instead of a clear coat 30th A glass plate can also be provided, onto which design or sensor elements are provided by injection molding. In addition, the use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features can be present several times or more.

List of reference symbols

10

Housing component

12

further housing part

13

Fastener

22nd

Foil with sensor elements and design elements

23

Slide with design elements

24

Foil with sensor elements

41

interface

42

Sensor element

44, 45

Design element

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 2111779 B1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Touch-sensitive user interface for a device, in particular for a household device, comprising at least one sensor element (42) for detecting a touch of the user interface and a housing component (10) of the device, characterized in that the housing component (10) is integral with the sensor element (42) trained and preferably molded housing component (10) is. User interface according to Claim 1 , wherein at least the at least one sensor element (42) and / or at least one design element (44, 45) is / are attached to at least one film (22, 23, 24) and wherein the material of the film (22, 23, 24) with the material of the housing component (10) is fused. User interface according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the housing component (10) was produced by back-molding the sensor element (42), in particular the film (22, 24) with the sensor element (42). User interface according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 wherein the design element (44) displays an input area of the user interface and wherein the input area is formed in the area in which a touch of the user interface by the sensor element (42) can be detected. User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one design element (44, 45) is arranged on a front side of the film (22) and at least one sensor element (42) is provided on the rear side of the film (22). User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor element (42) is provided on a first side of the housing component (10) and the at least one design element (44, 45) is provided on a second side of the housing component (10). User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor element (42) is attached to a first film (24) and wherein a second film (23) comprises the at least one design element (44, 45) and wherein the housing component (10) comprises a is integral with the first film (24) and with the second film (23) molded housing component (10). User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one design element (44, 45) is a printed or hot stamped design element (44, 45). User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor element (42) is at least largely enclosed by the primary forming production. Method for producing a device with a touch-sensitive user interface according to one of the preceding Claims 2 to 9 , comprising the steps of: - providing the at least one film (22, 24) with the at least one sensor element (42) in a tool shape, - molding the housing component (10) in the tool shape and - then mounting the housing component (10) on the Device.

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